Chapter 70: The Town Bleeds Unceasingly

The first Qin assault ended, leaving nearly two hundred corpses in its wake, and the attackers retreated in disarray. The momentum in their hearts had shattered, rendering them no different from beaten dogs.

"General, it seems this battle won’t be easily won," Wei Xing said, his confidence waning and worry creeping into his voice.

But Zhai Quan showed not the slightest regret. His face was resolute as he replied, "Hmph! That was merely a probing attack. I want to see how long they can hold out."

Unlike Wei Xing, Zhai Quan was steadfast in his convictions. Once he set his mind on something, he would pursue it relentlessly, undeterred by any challenge or hardship.

Besides, though the Qin army had suffered losses, the Wei defenders were far from unscathed.

Zhai Quan gazed at the distant city wall and spoke in a low voice, "Pass the order: in one hour, let Yu Shan’s division launch the next attack."

In truth, Zhai Quan preferred to press the attack immediately, denying the Wei defenders any respite. But his own forces had faltered, morale was shaky, and they needed reassurance before proceeding.

Meanwhile, Liu Xuanba led the soldiers down from the wall, handing over defense duties to Zhou Changyun.

Wei Wujie, who had been anxiously waiting below, hurried forward.

"Liu, that was a magnificent fight," Wei Wujie said, gripping Liu Xuanba’s shoulder and giving it a hearty slap.

From outside the battlefield, Wei Wujie had witnessed the entire engagement. Liu Xuanba’s outstanding performance filled him with admiration—this man was truly a warrior.

Unflinching in crisis, calm in chaos, leading from the front and fighting fiercely—Liu Xuanba was the very image of perfection.

Who would have thought I had so many capable men at my disposal? Wei Wujie mused silently.

Wang Xiu, Liu Xuanba, and the efficient Zheng Dali—Wei Wujie was pleased with them all, recalling how he had once defended his so-called "incompetent" subordinates.

Wang Xiu was exhausted, gasping for breath nearby. Wei Wujie gave him silent praise—for Wang Xiu was not a man who lived by the sword, yet he had fought bravely atop the wall.

"Wang, can you still hold on?" Wei Wujie asked with a smile.

Wang Xiu, his face smeared with blood, managed a smile and replied gravely, "Thank you for your concern, young master. I can still cut down a few more Qin men."

"Good!" Wei Wujie exclaimed, delighted.

"With such fine soldiers and generals, how could we fear the Qin?" His confidence surged.

Yet Wang Xiu did not join in the laughter; instead, he voiced his concerns, "Young master, the Qin are not so easily dealt with."

Wei Wujie’s smile faded. He looked at Wang Xiu, puzzled—they had just repelled the enemy, and their own casualties were few.

Seeing his confusion, Wang Xiu explained, "Young master, that was just a probing attack. Their next assault will be much fiercer."

This revelation shattered the grand visions Wei Wujie had entertained.

War is never as simple as you imagine! Wei Wujie smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"So you mean they’ll launch another strong attack?" he asked.

"Indeed, and it won’t be long before it comes," Wang Xiu answered with certainty.

Liu Xuanba chimed in, "Young master, Wang speaks truly. This wave of Qin attackers had its merits. Their momentum was formidable, not to be underestimated."

Liu Xuanba, who had faced the Qin assault firsthand, was the best qualified to comment. His words quickly dispelled the pride that had begun to swell in Wei Wujie’s heart.

The victory of the first battle left Wei Wujie, an inexperienced commander, somewhat at a loss.

"Can we hold them off?" he asked in a low voice, voicing his deepest concern.

Wang Xiu and Liu Xuanba exchanged glances, both faces tinged with worry. Both knew that if the siege persisted, the fall of Tie Lin Yi was only a matter of time.

Once Tie Lin Yi fell, the Wei army’s numerical disadvantage would only worsen, and annihilation would soon follow.

The true outcome hinged on whether the reinforcements Wei Wujie had requested could arrive in time.

Wang Xiu did not answer directly, saying only, "Young master, rest assured. We are prepared to lay down our lives to protect you."

He could hardly let his pessimism show.

"Though the Qin are many, our Wei warriors do not fear them," Liu Xuanba declared, brimming with boldness.

Seeing his subordinates so spirited, Wei Wujie felt a surge of confidence himself.

Men die, birds take flight—if I don’t die, I’ll live for ten thousand years! Damn it, what is there to fear? Wei Wujie shouted inwardly; his emotions changed swiftly.

He did not wish to appear timid before his men. Straightening his back, he looked around and said, "Whatever happens, to live and die alongside you today is my honor."

Not only Wang Xiu and Liu Xuanba, but all the soldiers who had just come down from the wall, upon hearing such heartfelt words, immediately knelt and cried, "We pledge our lives to serve you, young master!"

Some were moved by Wei Wujie’s actions.

See? What a fine commander! He fights for our food and pay, argues for our rewards before the lord, dares to thrash the quartermaster for our supplies…

All these gestures earned the soldiers’ gratitude for Wei Wujie’s great kindness.

Now, with his promise to share life and death, how could they not follow him to the end?

"Rise, all of you!" Wei Wujie hastily stepped forward.

This time, he did not help Liu Xuanba, who was by his side, but instead raised an ordinary soldier, smiling as he said, "A fine man shouldn’t always be kneeling!"

Then he looked at the others and laughed, "Get up quickly—do you want me to lift every one of you myself?"

"Yes, sir..."

The men slowly got to their feet.

"Rest now and regain your strength," Wei Wujie ordered.

"Wang Xiu, Liu Xuanba, organize the wounded and have the army physicians tend to them," he said to the two.

"Yes!" they replied, bowing.

Wei Wujie continued, "Gu Mu, who trades in medicines, has supplies at his estate. If you run short, go directly there."

"Yes!"

The two turned and departed.

Wei Wujie remained, his attention returning to the city wall.

It was quiet above, much as it had been in peaceful days, save for the presence of defending soldiers.

But as the saying goes, it is always peaceful before the storm.

When the morning sun climbed higher and the heat intensified, the earth seemed to beat a drum—Qin’s assault began anew.

On the wall, Zhou Changyun and his companion stayed calm, directing the archers to launch volley after volley, inflicting losses on the Qin.

But soon, the Qin set their scaling ladders against the wall once more, as if replaying the previous attack. The only difference was that this time, they did it faster.

War again revealed its brutal face—men tangled together, stabbing with spears, slashing with swords.

Blood streaked every face, no one bothered to wipe it away, letting it flow to the lips. Each man, like a demon from hell, cast aside all decorum and shame, seeking only to devour the enemy’s life.

From his vantage point, Wei Wujie could see the entire scene atop the wall.

Unlike the television dramas of his previous life, there were no flashy moves here—only simple hacking and stabbing.

Yet this primal, frenzied, bloodthirsty spectacle shocked him all the more.

He saw with his own eyes a living arm chopped off at the shoulder, and the man soon hacked to death, unable to heroically defeat several foes with one arm...

He saw a head cleaved off by a heavy sword, rolling like a ball, the body still standing, spraying blood in every direction...

Blood, severed heads, broken limbs, corpses—soon the wall, just cleared, was once again piled high with these grisly remnants.

But in the end... the Wei army held firm, repelling the Qin attackers once more.

Yet this did not mean the battle was over.

The next attack, and the one after, would surely come, until the Wei defenders were utterly spent.